Dignity & Human Rights

How much does
the human being worth?

Dignity

• An intrinsic and inherent moral worth, a basic moral status.
• Persons can lack a sense of dignity without consequent
• loss of their human dignity.

Kant holds that dignity contrasts with price and that there is NOTHING for which it is morally acceptable to sacrifice HD

How is human dignity protected?

Human Rights 101

Right --> It is a non-negotiable claim

Rights can be seen as a way of defending certain freedoms against the power of the State, or against other citizens.

Read the preamble of the Human Rights Declaration and answer: What is the purpose of the UDHR?

Characteristics

• Universal
• Inalienable
• Unconditional

The United Nation’s Universal Declaration of Human Rights sought to declare a consensus about the minimum standards of decent treatment of humans. Ratified
in 1948, it contains 30 articles.

Background

• Declaration of Independence of the United States (1776)
• Declaration of the Rights of Man of the French Revolution (1789)

Generally...

• Civil and political rights.
• Societal and Economic rights
• A set of different rights.

think

• Are there missing rights?
• Should be included?
• All basic needs = Human right?